Charles Leclerc is eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next set of updates for the Ferrari SF-25, hoping they will allow Scuderia Ferrari to close the performance gap to McLaren and consistently stay ahead of Mercedes and Red Bull Racing. Following a difficult first half of the 2025 Formula 1 season without any victories, Ferrari remains the only top team yet to win a race this year. As the championship enters its second half, Leclerc provided a detailed reflection on what the team has achieved so far and what he expects in the upcoming races.
Despite currently holding second place in the Constructors’ Championship standings, Ferrari finds itself in a unique position among the top four teams. While Red Bull Racing, McLaren, and Mercedes have all secured at least one victory during the first twelve rounds of the season, the Maranello-based team is still winless in 2025. Ferrari’s modest tally consists of just four podium finishes, all achieved by Charles Leclerc: one second-place finish in Monaco, and three third places.
When asked to summarize the first half of the season, Charles Leclerc admitted it has been more difficult than expected. Speaking to the media, the Monegasque driver explained that after ending the 2024 campaign fighting for wins and contending for the Constructors’ title, the team naturally hoped to begin 2025 at a similar level. However, that expectation has not been met.
“This first part of the season has been much more challenging than we had anticipated,” Charles Leclerc stated during his media duties. “When you finish the previous season fighting for victories and the Constructors’ Championship, you expect to start the next one at least on the same level. That has not been the case. We’ve encountered more difficulties than we thought.”
Looking ahead, one of the key technical developments for Ferrari involves the introduction of a brand-new rear suspension system. This component has already been tested during a recent filming day at the Mugello circuit and could provide a crucial boost in performance for the SF-25 in the remaining races. While attention across the paddock will soon begin shifting toward the design of the 2026 Formula 1 cars—especially in light of the upcoming regulation changes—Ferrari remains focused on making meaningful gains this year.
Charles Leclerc expressed confidence that the team is now moving in the right direction with its development path. He believes the updates already introduced have helped improve the SF-25 and is optimistic that the upcoming changes will further narrow the gap to the front-runners.
“We are now finding the right development direction,” Charles Leclerc commented. “That has definitely helped us take a few steps forward. I know there are more updates coming, hopefully as soon as possible, and they should help us reduce the gap to McLaren and even to Red Bull Racing. Mercedes seems to be a bit more inconsistent. But ultimately, it’s up to us to do a better job than our rivals and try to catch the teams ahead.”
With optimism returning and a new technical package on the horizon, Ferrari and Charles Leclerc hope to turn around their season and finally return to the top step of the Formula 1 podium.
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